Baby with 2 Faces Born in North India
Sushma, left, and Vinod Singh pose with their daughter Lali who was born with two faces, two noses, two pairs of lips and two pairs of eyes. She is being worshipped as the reincarnation of a Hindu goddess.
By GURINDER OSAN, Associated Press Writer
April 08, 2008
SAINI SUNPURA, India – A baby with two faces was born in a northern Indian village, where she is doing well and is being worshipped as the reincarnation of a Hindu goddess, her father said Tuesday.
The baby, Lali, apparently has an extremely rare condition known as craniofacial duplication, where a single head has two faces. Except for her ears, all of Lali’s facial features are duplicated — she has two noses, two pairs of lips and two pairs of eyes.
“My daughter is fine — like any other child,” said Vinod Singh, 23, a poor farm worker.
Lali has caused a sensation in the dusty village of Saini Sunpura, 25 miles east of New Delhi. When she left the hospital, eight hours after a normal delivery on March 11, she was swarmed by villagers, said Sabir Ali, the director of Saifi Hospital.
“She drinks milk from her two mouths and opens and shuts all the four eyes at one time,” Ali said.
Rural India is deeply superstitious and the little girl is being hailed as a return of the Hindu goddess of valor, Durga, a fiery deity traditionally depicted with three eyes and many arms.
Up to 100 people have been visiting Lali at her home every day to touch her feet out of respect, offer money and receive blessings, Singh told The Associated Press.
“Lali is God’s gift to us,” said Jaipal Singh, a member of the local village council. “She has brought fame to our village.”
Village chief Daulat Ram said he planned to build a temple to Durga in the village.
“I am writing to the state government to provide money to build the temple and help the parents look after their daughter,” Ram said.
Lali’s condition is often linked to serious health complications, but the doctor said she was doing well.
“She is leading a normal life with no breathing difficulties,” said Ali, adding that he saw no need for surgery.
Lali’s parents were married in February 2007. Lali is their first child.
Singh said he took his daughter to a hospital in New Delhi where doctors suggested a CT scan to determine whether her internal organs were normal, but Singh said he felt it was unnecessary.
“I don’t feel the need of that at this stage as my daughter is behaving like a normal child, posing no problems,” he said.
Tetany
6 months ago
8 comments
Not to mention, note the limp arms and legs of the child. Lack of activity in certain parts of the brain? Where's the swaddling?
penny
6 months ago
26 comments
I feel thee should be further testing like the CT scan. With the world the way it is Im glad she is seen as a goddess. Hopefully in the future she will to. God Bless
LPN44117
7 months ago
10 comments
I think thisbaby is a miracle We should all be a little more sensitive to Hindu belief. This child is being WORSHIPPED by Indian culture. as a mother Sushma has the maternal instinct and I am fairly certain she would know if their were a problem CT scans are a western form of medicine and is not something that is utilized in rural villages. If people want to believe Lali is a reincarnated goddess than that is wat they belive IT IS WAT IT IS!
kellyc_na
7 months ago
24 comments
WOW!
EvangelisticSistah
7 months ago
70 comments
I heard about this a while ago but did not believe it. Seeing is believing. This had to be twins that did not finish separating in the womb. I pray for the parents and the baby.
folake
7 months ago
2 comments
i think all this have to do with parents uneducated. The chief of the village probablly control the parents one way or the other.
renisriulina
7 months ago
2 comments
Sushma and Vinod Singh, I know your Lali was born from BOTTOM YOUR HEART.
icrawford8
7 months ago
26 comments
Good Story, I hope in the long run this child has nothing wrong with her in the long run, she should have a CT and a CAT scan done to make sure that every think is ok.
vickey
7 months ago
2 comments
SHE IS A BLESSING, GODS ANGEL.
evelyngarcia
7 months ago
2 comments
I would suggest further evaluation to the case of baby Lali to be sure everything will be safe later or sooner. Just take care of her, give the nourishment and safety she really needs.
Evelyn G.
jesbetts
7 months ago
2 comments
Don't worry. Soon either Angelina Jolie or Madonna will want to adopt her
marinaarias
7 months ago
16 comments
I agree with Wild Rose...I don't think a child should be exposed to the public, like a circus act. The one thing that nobody seems to be getting, is that - This is NOT a normal birth. It is a deformity, and to NOT have their child examined further, to make sure there are no other complications...is just selfish and cruel. The child needs medical attention - and using her to make money, is abusive!!!
tlufkin902
7 months ago
4 comments
I don't think it's about benefiting financially necessarily. Seems like it's more of a sacred thing to them. They think she is a reincarnated goddess so perhaps it's similar to situations where someone's child has stigmata? I wonder how in the world you would fix that anyway. Even if you removed one face the other one would forever be on sideways.
Wild_Rose
7 months ago
96 comments
I wounder If she has single GI system or tow?... I mean where do the tow mouths meet or end up?
melba
7 months ago
74 comments
picture speaks a thousand words. by the look of mom and dad's faces they appear too not be as happy about their child's current health and well being but continue to play the part so that they can benifit financially. in their hearts of hearts they must know that exposing this child like a circus act is wrong and they should be investing that time and the media to seek medical help for their child. shame on them!